Howard Owen explore les complexités de la psychologie humaine et l'impact durable du passé sur le présent. Ses romans, souvent situés dans le Sud américain, abordent des thèmes profonds tels que la culpabilité, la rédemption et les dynamiques familiales complexes. Avec un sens aigu du détail et une perspicacité saisissante des faiblesses humaines, Owen crée des personnages aussi imparfaits qu'infaillibles. Sa prose, à la fois brute et lyrique, entraîne les lecteurs dans des récits où le crime et le drame personnel s'entremêlent avec une force inéluctable.
The plot unfolds in Dogtown, where the brutal murder of a seemingly harmless blue-collar worker raises alarm among residents. The mystery deepens when an elderly couple is also found dead in their upscale home shortly after. As the protagonist, Willie Black, investigates these shocking events, he begins to suspect a sinister connection between the two killings, challenging the notion of safety in his community and unraveling hidden truths.
The River City emerges as a hub for gritty noir, featuring brand-new stories from a diverse array of authors. The introduction reflects on Richmond, Virginia, highlighting its complex history marked by deception, conspiracy, and violence. Henry Miller's sardonic remark about preferring to die in Richmond underscores the city's dual nature. Today, Richmond is a blend of elegance and brutality—home to winter balls and garden parties, yet also notorious for crime and drug activity. The city boasts prestigious ad agencies and law firms, alongside a rich tapestry of residents, from the First Families of Virginia to immigrants from various backgrounds. Richmond's social fabric includes strict manners and a sense of neighborliness, but also an underlying tension that cautions against road rage. This juxtaposition of charm and danger creates a fertile ground for noir storytelling, making Richmond a compelling backdrop for tales of moral ambiguity and human complexity.